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Thursday, March 3, 2016

Heirloom rice from the Cordillera Region featured at food and agriculture exhibit

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—Heirloom rice varieties from the Cordillera Region are being featured through 4 March in a public exhibit promoting outstanding agriculture technologies and products at the headquarters of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

“The exhibit is giving the public a chance to learn about our traditional heirloom rice varieties and to support the Heirloom Rice Project (HRP), which is helping farmers in the Cordilleras,” explained Paul Hilario, curator of Riceworld Museum at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The exhibit features a rice-tasting activity in which participants can experience the superb cooking quality of the heirloom rice varieties.

HRP is a joint initiative of the Philippine Department of Agriculture and IRRI under the country’s Food Staples Sufficiency Program.

The exhibit, Strategic Industry Science & Technology Program for Agri-Aqua Growth (SIPAG FIESTA), is showcasing the best products and services that Philippine agriculture has to offer.

“We believe in our science and technology workers—scientists, engineers, inventors, among other,” said Secretary Mario G. Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). “When we empower them, especially with guided and directed research, they become more capable of generating work and products at par with most of the world, The more we empower them, the better we can engage them in the work of science and technology in nation building and improving individual lives.”

Organized by DOST-PCAARRD, 15 regional consortia and 13 agencies, including IRRI, are taking part in SIPAG FIESTA

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